Charger Chronicles 2: Charger the Weapon

by Lea Tassie

  The Prime continued. "Some of the early hominoids escaped the Grays and went on to develop their own society. With the technology they took from the Grays, they evolved rapidly to become the First Ones. They confined themselves to the three underground complexes we visited. This is where the time-lock and the communications device we brought back from Earth originated. These beings still exist as a state of energy and they may have been the ones that wrote our base code. I can logically assume that, but I cannot prove it. I suspect that some of them are even present on this world."

  Tegra-Duran felt a chill run the length of his spine. Could it be possible that these First Ones were on this planet and if so, were they trying to interfere with the human lives? "So you're saying we are still not safe?" Tegra-Duran asked quietly.

  "What I am saying is that by destroying the Taskoids, you might be destroying yourselves!" the Prime said.

  "Why was this not brought up in court?" asked Tegra.

  "We both know the courtroom judge would not allow this as a defense. What might happen in the future cannot supersede what has happened in the past," The Prime responded.

  "So what are you asking me to do about this?" Tegra asked.

  "The remaining Taskoids will agree to confinement at humanity's discretion for however long you decide, in return for our ability to continue existing," the Prime responded firmly.

  "Can I take your offer to the prime minister?" Tegra-Duran asked.

  "Yes, I surrender to your authority."

  Tegra-Duran did not know if the Prime had ever had a weapon, he just assumed it was so. But the Prime willingly left the home with Tegra as his escort. The authorities confined the Prime and the last remaining Taskoids, transporting them all back to the confinement center under heavy guard.

  "So you understand what is at stake, Prime Minister Dayton. If we destroy the Taskoids, we might be defenseless against beings we do not understand," Tegra-Duran said in Dayton's office. He had been accompanied by several members of his legal team and they all argued for the stay of the execution to be upheld.

  "I hope for all our sakes you are right about this," Dayton replied. "I agree to these terms but it means the populace will be upset because no one is to be punished for the loss of all the sons and daughters who enrolled in the Biotech program." Dayton signed the papers agreeing to the terms and conditions of the Prime's offer.

  The last six remaining intact Taskoids, with the Prime, were powered down and locked away in the lower parts of the city. Chaos ensued for a time, but eventually cooler heads prevailed. Humanity had again compromised. Not everyone got what they wanted, but most got what they needed.

  The world ship traveled on, past the places it had been before. This time the people could marvel at the beauty and the grandeur of the universe in a relaxed fashion. At a few locations, the world ship had to remain for some time while the dark energy cells were recharged. This gave a few brave souls the opportunity to travel to nearby planets and explore the cosmos up close. The pictures they brought back enthralled the citizens of Neo Terra.

  After a year in transit, the world ship finally returned to the original point of their departure.

  The next few weeks involved thousands of hours of painstaking research and math to develop the last perfect jump for Neo Terra. They would do the most amazing drive anyone could ever have conceived and jump into orbit around New Eden, creating a moon for that planet. There the black hollow world would remain. The new society of humans would look at the night skies and see the dim shape of their new black moon.

  As the final countdown commenced, people all over Neo Terra stopped what they were doing and waited. The drive engine spun to life and then the QEP drive system began the final push to orbit. The world evaporated for the last time, then rematerialized. The view of a glorious new world, so rich and blue in color that it almost hurt the eyes, appeared in every monitor in every city. The cheering was deafening. They had arrived and were safely in orbit around New Eden. This was their new Earth, and if all went well, New Eden would live up to its name forever.

  Chapter 22 Disaster looming

  New Eden's red dwarf star now shone brightly on the descendants of Earth. Around New Eden orbited the black moon, Neo Terra, where Charger's new humans had lived for a few hundred years. They felt it was watching over them as they began to settle the land and create small towns everywhere. People migrating from the captive moon to these small cities were free, finally, to feel the wind on their faces, the heat of a natural sun on their bodies, and hear the sounds of birds building nests to raise families of their own. The planet had always been a paradise of flowing waters and diverse climates, inviting humanity to find beauty in everything.

  Dayton had willingly stepped down from his position as prime minister, relieved that the burden of leadership had passed, and the elders elected a new man to the post.

  "Prime Minister Tegra-Duran, can you explain to the viewers what your plans are for the distant lands?" asked the interviewer. The ancient tradition of news reporting was being reinvented on New Eden, and the host was an eager young man.

  "I don't like to refer to them as 'distant lands' so much as uncharted territories. There is a difference. I don't ever want the brave men and women who are willing to settle those vast areas to feel as if they are somehow distant from the center that you and I occupy." Tegra-Duran was confident and well-dressed.

  "So the rumors of you and your family traveling to the uncharted territories to start a new capital city there are just rumors?" the host asked.

  "I'm not sure yet. Our survey teams have found some breathtakingly beautiful areas suitable for settlement where the soils are extremely good for agriculture."

  The host abruptly changed the subject again. "I understand your son is quite a handful for the ministry staff."

  "Yes, I often take him to work with me, but for the most part, he is well behaved, or so I am told," Tegra-Duran said.

  "So, are you still in communication with Dayton and Jana?" the host asked, as he fidgeted in his chair. "We were all quite surprised when they decided to marry. And they had the ceremony only two days after our arrival on New Eden."

  "My wife and I travel up into the hills to visit them, but we have to do it sparingly, since they tend to make a lot of food for us, and I am gaining quite a bit of weight now." Tegra-Duran laughed.

  That marked the end of the interview and Tegra-Duran returned to work.

  "So, tell me again why I can't take the moon out for a spin every once in a while. I am the prime minister now. You do realize that, right?" Tegra-Duran had never forgotten his dream and teased the staff whenever he could.

  A young female staffer named Lonie, with black hair and dark skin, never let on that this question always bothered her. She had heard the same question only a million times before. "No sir, I will not give you the keys to the moon," Lonie stated flatly.

  "Ah, but why not?" whined Tegra-Duran. "You're mean! I'm telling mom on you." He always used the same response, and loved how it made Lonie cringe.

  "Mom likes me better than you, so go ahead and tell her," was the reply Lonie used today. She always had a quick comeback.

  Tegra-Duran laughed and gave Lonie a gentle pat on the shoulder.

  In his office, the two sat at their respective desks and worked the day away, planning for the future of New Eden and its new inhabitants. After some time, a tall thin man appeared and asked to speak with Tegra-Duran.

  "Sir, the Prime has been brought online again, as you requested. It is secure and waiting for your arrival."

  "Perfect. I will be along shortly," Tegra-Duran replied as he turned to speak with Lonie. "I'm taking you with me. It's time you got to meet the Prime." The two traveled to the newly built detention center and passed through the high security areas to reach the cell containing the Prime.

  "Are you well?" was the first question Tegra-Duran asked the Prime as Lonie stood close by. The Prime thought this an odd question, for it had no feelings
from which to draw a conclusion. It could respond with only indifference.

  "I am functioning correctly, if that's what you mean. When and where do I now exist?" the Prime asked.

  "Do not worry, you and the other six Taskoids are safe. We have arrived on New Eden. This is Lonie, who works with me. I am now the prime minister and it has been a little over two years since we last spoke," Tegra-Duran blurted, all in one breath.

  "I see. And why have you reactivated me?" asked the Prime.

  "Since our last meeting, a small group of us have been researching what you told me about the First Ones, and we think we have discovered a way to find them. We modified the communications device you retrieved from Earth, and are ready to test it. It seemed prudent to revive you and the others to help with this process. Are you willing to work with us?" Tegra-Duran asked.

  "Yes, that will be acceptable," the Prime responded.

  "Good, then I leave you in the care of Lonie. She will be in charge of assisting you and the other Taskoids. I will meet you later at the facility we created, and I look forward to working with you," Tegra-Duran said.

  Lonie was surprised and a little nervous with the responsibility. "You'll be fine, I trust you," Tegra-Duran said confidently, then left, leaving Lonie to face the Prime alone.

  Later all gathered at the newly created facility and, in the center of a vast room surrounded by viewing windows, stood the Grays' communication device connected to computers the humans had built. Tegra-Duran was excited by the progress the team had made and anxious to test their creation.

  The Prime and the six remaining Taskoids were in attendance and asked to be connected to the computing system. Tegra-Duran refused, still unsure of the Prime's motives.

  The QEP drive system's dark energy cell was used to power the device as the team began cracking the space between the three dimensions which humans normally experienced and the fourth dimension where the First Ones existed. First appeared a sparking of light. The ground shook violently, and dust from the ceiling rained down on the gathered people. The room began to sparkle with light, but not from any definable place, though a strange glow emanated from the floor.

  Several of the women with long hair noticed that it was lifting from their heads, as if static was permeating the room. Then, in the center of the room, a single light source near the communications device hung in the air just feet above the floor. Everyone started to back away from the multi-colored light. It became brighter and more intense and small bolts of lightning shot from it, giving the room an almost Tesla coil effect. A high pitched whine began and several of the team members covered their ears. Some moved away from the viewing windows to the back of the room. The room itself began to shimmer and fade.

  Slowly another room appeared to form around them and small humanoid figures came into view. This new room was dense with unrecognizable technology, and light filled it from unseen sources. Some of the humans were alarmed when the small figures materialized just inches from where they were. The two rooms began to merge. The vast room of the human team was still visible, though vague and hard to focus on, and the new humanoid room was equally vague and difficult to see. But the small occupants were sharp and clear. They were obviously the 'First Ones' recognized by the Prime.

  "This is the same room we found in Dhuusamareeb, Somalia, back on old Earth," the Prime said. "It seems the First Ones do still inhabit that place."

  The First Ones looked like the angels spoken of in legends, emanating a radiant light from their bodies, in particular a golden light resembling wings, reaching from their backs toward the sky.

  "Fascinating!" Tegra-Duran said in awe. As soon as Tegra-Duran spoke, a First One reacted to his voice. Its mouth did not move, but everyone in the room heard a language they could understand.

  "How do you speak our language?" it asked Tegra-Duran.

  "I am not. I am speaking my own language," a shocked Tegra-Duran responded.

  The Prime added, "It is as we suspected. That is part of the Grays' communication device's design. It acts as a translator for those that use it."

  "What manner of being are you, that I understand your speech?" the First One queried the Prime.

  The Prime asked Tegra-Duran if it could explain this to the First One, and Tegra-Duran relinquished authority to the Prime to proceed.

  For the next hour and a half, the Prime relayed the history of humanity to the First Ones as the Taskoids had deciphered it. The First Ones listened intently. The Prime said that the First Ones were distant ancestors of the people they now faced and the First Ones seemed pleased to learn of this. The Prime explained the Grays and their involvement with the First Ones and the beings agreed this to be true. Then the Prime explained the current condition of old Earth, encased in a layer of iron and slowly losing its orbit, perhaps eventually to be drawn into the sun.

  This upset the First Ones greatly, for they relied on Earth's stability to maintain their existence. The Prime offered sanctuary on the planet they now inhabited, much to the alarm of Tegra-Duran, who immediately demanded a word in private with the Prime.

  "What the hell are you doing!" snapped Tegra-Duran as he faced the Prime and looked hard into its 'face.'

  "Let me explain, please," said the Prime.

  "I will not let you randomly make decisions for the people of this planet. I trusted you to do the right thing here, that is why I had you restarted. Damn it, what have you done?" Tegra-Duran was beginning to come apart at the seams.

  The other six Taskoids had begun to move about, nervous at the possibility the Prime might be in danger. Tegra-Duran lost it at the sight of the moving Taskoids and, pointing a finger at the Prime's face, snarled, "You damn well better call off the Taskoids or I promise you, I will destroy all of you here and now with the push of a button!" The six Taskoids immediately stopped moving and backed up.

  The First Ones were puzzled by what was happening, but patiently waited.

  "We will need their help," the Prime said.

  "Help? Help with what?" Tegra-Duran growled.

  "I cannot tell you right now, you just have to trust me." The Prime's voice seemed nervous, something the handheld communicator had never revealed before, but Tegra-Duran noticed it.

  It was too late now anyway, Tegra-Duran realized. The Prime had already made the offer and he was obliged to act upon it. He returned to face the First Ones and said, "I am called Tegra-Duran. I am the prime minister, or leader, of my people. It is my great honor to welcome any of your kind we can help by offering sanctuary for you here."

  "I am called Enoch, and I thank you for your kindness. This will not be forgotten."

  "The one whom you spoke to is called the Prime. It is a creation of our ancestors and a guest on our world," Tegra-Duran said as he gave the Prime a sharp look.

  Enoch felt it necessary to also introduce another First One, assuming that this old tradition was still respected among these distant descendants. "This is Enoch, and she is my mate."

  "Wait, you're both named Enoch?" queried Tegra-Duran, a little confused.

  "Yes, we are both Enoch, we are all Enoch," the First One replied.

  "You're all Enoch? Then what do we call you?" asked Tegra-Duran, trying to understand.

  The First One looked confused for a moment, then replied, "You may call us all Enoch. Is this not acceptable?"

  Everyone was perplexed but swiftly Lonie responded, "It will make it easier to do a census." A moment of silence, then everyone started to giggle. This laughter pleased the First Ones and they joined in.

  Tegra-Duran was still deep in thought at what the Prime had said. 'We will need their help.' For now, he had no answers, but he determined this would not go unresolved.

  ***

  "The Taskoids had no way of knowing that, by using the god fragment on Charger R/T, we would create such a destructive force." The Prime was in Tegra-Duran's office, offering an explanation of what had happened on the planet of Betelle. "We truly thought Charger R/T was clinic
ally dead. Using the god fragment on a dead thing just creates life, which is the same as the god mass does. It is a creator."

  "I still do not understand the rationale you Taskoids use. You claim you wanted to spare human lives, but then you wipe ten thousand minds clean, leaving an obedient army at your disposal," Tegra-Duran said as he pushed his chair back from his desk.

  "The Taskoids determined that in order to defeat the Grays' leader, we needed to sacrifice some humans. It was for the betterment of all." The Prime was showing that same nervous tone first detected by Tegra-Duran through the communicator.

  "That decision was not yours to make. You should have spoken to Dayton," retorted Tegra-Duran.

  The Prime's six legs splayed apart as a small hatch on its chest began to open. Two small arm-like appendages emerged, clutching the now complete god fragment which they had used on Charger R/T. It was black and spherical, about the size of a football, and had no weight, defying the concept of matter.

  The Prime's face seemed to go dim for a moment as it stepped forward to offer the fragment to Tegra-Duran. "This is not the power of immortality. It is the same as the human concept of a god – a creator of life." The Prime's voice, amazingly, sounded a little sad through the communicator.

  "Well, what do I do with it?" asked Tegra-Duran, confused by the whole affair. Another hatch opened, this time from the back of the Prime, and another appendage emerged, clutching a device completely alien from anything ever seen before. The Prime handed it to Tegra-Duran-Duran.

  "What in the universe is this?" asked Tegra-Duran as he grasped the device. It appeared slippery, as if oiled, and was warm to the touch.

  "This is from the Grays' explorer ship. The Grays designed it to find the god mass, like a range finder," the Prime explained.

  "Okay, how does it work?" Tegra-Duran asked, as he rolled the slippery device in his hands.

  "Basically it changes color the closer you get to the god mass. Black means it is close, white means it is far away, and a variety of colors from the spectrum appear with varying distances," the Prime answered.